Three zones hydronic heating

The previous tutorials provided idealized, somewhat unrealistic examples. In this tutorial, we will simulate a three-zone building with a hydronic heating system, creating a more realistic house model.

As usual, the configuration file will be presented and explained. Here are some key points to note regarding the configuration file:

• Default Construction Values: Trano includes a set of predefined construction, glazing, and gas properties that can be imported into your configuration file. To use them, add the following line:

  default: !include_default
  

• Emissions Systems: Each space is assigned a list of emission systems. Each system is linked to a radiator object (RADIATOR:001) and a valve object (VALVE:001). The valve is controlled instead of the radiator:

  emissions:
    - radiator:
        id: RADIATOR:001
    - valve:
        id: VALVE:001
        control:
          emission_control:
  

• Defining the Hydronic System: It is essential to define the complete hydronic system, which includes the boiler, pump, and various valves:

  systems:
    - boiler:
        id: BOILER:001
        control:
          boiler_control:
    - pump:
        id: PUMP:001
        control:
          collector_control:
        outlets:
          - THREE_WAY_VALVE:001
          - THREE_WAY_VALVE:002
        inlets:
          - BOILER:001
    - split_valve:
        id: SPLIT_VALVE:001
        inlets:
          - VALVE:003
          - VALVE:001
        outlets:
          - BOILER:001
    - three_way_valve:
        id: THREE_WAY_VALVE:001
        control:
          three_way_valve_control:
        outlets:
          - TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:001
          - SPLIT_VALVE:001
    - temperature_sensor:
        id: TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:001
        outlets:
          - RADIATOR:001
          - RADIATOR:003
    - split_valve:
        id: SPLIT_VALVE:002
        inlets:
          - VALVE:002
        outlets:
          - BOILER:001
    - three_way_valve:
        id: THREE_WAY_VALVE:002
        control:
          three_way_valve_control:
        outlets:
          - TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:002
          - SPLIT_VALVE:002
    - temperature_sensor:
        id: TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:002
        inlets:
          - THREE_WAY_VALVE:002
        outlets:
          - RADIATOR:002
  

Input configuration file

The described configuration represents a multi-room building with a combination of different internal and external spaces. It includes:

1. Construction Details:
2. Materials: The walls and floors are composed of materials with thermal conductivity of 0.035, a density of 2000 kg/m³, and a specific heat capacity of 1000 J/(kg·K), indicating good insulation properties.

3. Constructions: The building features cavity walls and concrete slabs.

4. Space Allocation:

5. There are three distinct spaces (rooms), each with specific dimensions and occupancy parameters, including floor area and ceiling height.

6. Heating System:

7. The building is equipped with a centralized heating system, featuring radiators controlled by valves and a boiler for heating water.

8. Ventilation and Temperature Control:

9. Various sensors and three-way valves manage the flow of heating, suggesting a focus on maintaining comfort and energy efficiency.

Overall, this configuration suggests a residential building designed for efficient thermal performance and effective heating management, with clearly defined living spaces and infrastructure for heating control.

default: !include_default
material:
  - id: MATERIAL:001
    thermal_conductivity: 0.035
    density: 2000.0
    specific_heat_capacity: 1000.0
  - id: MATERIAL:002
    thermal_conductivity: 0.035
    density: 2000.0
    specific_heat_capacity: 1000.0
  - id: MATERIAL:003
    thermal_conductivity: 0.035
    density: 2000.0
    specific_heat_capacity: 1000.0

constructions:
  - id: CONSTRUCTION:001
    layers:
      - material: MATERIAL:001
        thickness: 0.1
      - material: MATERIAL:002
        thickness: 0.1
      - material: MATERIAL:003
        thickness: 0.1
spaces:
  - occupancy:
    parameters:
      floor_area: 100.0
      average_room_height: 2.5
    id: SPACE:001
    external_boundaries:
      external_walls:
        - surface: 20
          azimuth: 0
          tilt: wall
          construction: CAVITYWALL:001
        - surface: 30
          azimuth: 90
          tilt: wall
          construction: CAVITYWALL:001
        - surface: 50
          azimuth: 180.0
          tilt: wall
          construction: CAVITYWALL:001
      windows:
        - surface: 5.0
          construction: EPCDOUBLE:001
          azimuth: 0
          tilt: wall
        - surface: 2.0
          construction: EPCDOUBLE:001
          azimuth: 180.0
          tilt: wall
      floor_on_grounds:
        - surface: 120
          construction: CONCRETESLAB:001
    emissions:
      - radiator:
          id: RADIATOR:003
      - valve:
          id: VALVE:003
          control:
            emission_control:
  - occupancy:
    parameters:
      floor_area: 70
      average_room_height: 2.5
    id: SPACE:002
    external_boundaries:
      external_walls:
        - surface: 25
          azimuth: 0
          tilt: wall
          construction: CAVITYWALLPARTIALFILL:001
        - surface: 25
          azimuth: 90
          tilt: wall
          construction: CAVITYWALLPARTIALFILL:001
        - surface: 34
          azimuth: 180
          tilt: wall
          construction: CAVITYWALLPARTIALFILL:001
      windows:
        - surface: 5.0
          construction: INS2AR2020:001
          azimuth: 0
          tilt: wall
        - surface: 2.0
          construction: INS2AR2020:001
          azimuth: 180
          tilt: wall
      floor_on_grounds:
        - surface: 60
          construction: CONCRETESLAB:001
    emissions:
      - radiator:
          id: RADIATOR:001
      - valve:
          id: VALVE:001
          control:
            emission_control:
  - occupancy:
    parameters:
      floor_area: 50.0
      average_room_height: 2.5
    id: SPACE:003
    external_boundaries:
      external_walls:
        - surface: 22
          azimuth: 180.0
          tilt: wall
          construction: CONSTRUCTION:001
        - surface: 17
          azimuth: 180.0
          tilt: wall
          construction: CONSTRUCTION:001
        - surface: 36
          azimuth: 180.0
          tilt: wall
          construction: CONSTRUCTION:001
      floor_on_grounds:
        - surface: 60.0
          construction: CONCRETESLAB:001
    emissions:
      - radiator:
          id: RADIATOR:002
      - valve:
          id: VALVE:002
          control:
            emission_control:
internal_walls:
  - space_1: SPACE:001
    space_2: SPACE:002
    construction: CAVITYWALL:001
    surface: 20
  - space_1: SPACE:002
    space_2: SPACE:001
    construction: CONSTRUCTION:001
    surface: 15
  - space_1: SPACE:002
    space_2: SPACE:003
    construction: CAVITYWALLPARTIALFILL:001
    surface: 22
systems:
  - boiler:
      id: BOILER:001
      control:
        boiler_control:
  - pump:
      id: PUMP:001
      control:
        collector_control:
      outlets:
        - THREE_WAY_VALVE:001
        - THREE_WAY_VALVE:002
      inlets:
        - BOILER:001
  - split_valve:
      id: SPLIT_VALVE:001
      inlets:
        - VALVE:003
        - VALVE:001
      outlets:
        - BOILER:001
  - three_way_valve:
      id: THREE_WAY_VALVE:001
      control:
        three_way_valve_control:
      outlets:
        - TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:001
        - SPLIT_VALVE:001
  - temperature_sensor:
      id: TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:001
      outlets:
        - RADIATOR:001
        - RADIATOR:003
  - split_valve:
      id: SPLIT_VALVE:002
      inlets:
        - VALVE:002
      outlets:
        - BOILER:001
  - three_way_valve:
      id: THREE_WAY_VALVE:002
      control:
        three_way_valve_control:
      outlets:
        - TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:002
        - SPLIT_VALVE:002
  - temperature_sensor:
      id: TEMPERATURE_SENSOR:002
      inlets:
        - THREE_WAY_VALVE:002
      outlets:
        - RADIATOR:002

Code

The following code snippet demonstrates how to simulate a multizone model using Trano. This simulation generates a comprehensive report that includes a detailed description of parameters and accompanying figures.

Test tutorials

    from trano.main import simulate_model
    from trano.simulate.simulate import SimulationLibraryOptions

    simulate_model(
        "./three_zones_hydronic_heating.yaml",
        SimulationLibraryOptions(
            start_time=0,
            end_time=2 * 3600 * 24 * 7,
            tolerance=1e-4,
            library_name="Buildings",
        ),
    )

General Explanation

This code snippet imports a function to simulate a model using configuration settings defined in a YAML file. It specifies parameters like time duration, tolerance, and the library to use for simulations.

Parameters Description

• Path to Model File: "./three_zones_hydronic_heating.yaml"

• Specifies the location of the simulation model configuration file.

• SimulationLibraryOptions:

• start_time: 0

  • The time at which the simulation starts, in seconds.

• end_time: 2 * 3600 * 24 * 7

  • The total simulation duration, calculated here to be two weeks in seconds.

• tolerance: 1e-4

  • The acceptable numerical tolerance for the simulation results.

• library_name: "Buildings"

  • The name of the library utilized for the simulation.

Outputs

The following report was generated by Trano after simulating the three-zone building with an ideal heating system.

Spaces

hRoo	AFlo	linearizeRadiation	m_flow_nominal	mSenFac	T_start	volume
2.5	100.0	true	0.01	1.0	294.15	250.0

gain	k	occupancy	name
[35; 70; 30]	1/6/4	3600 * {7, 19}	occupancy_1

Name	Azimuth	Construction Name	Surface	Tilt
externalwall_0	0.0	cavitywall_001	20.0	wall
externalwall_1	90.0	cavitywall_001	30.0	wall
externalwall_2	180.0	cavitywall_001	50.0	wall
window_0	0.0	epcdouble_001	5.0	wall
window_1	180.0	epcdouble_001	2.0	wall
flooronground_0	90.0	concreteslab_001	120.0	floor
internal_space_001_space_002_cavitywall	10.0	cavitywall_001	20.0	wall
internal_space_002_space_001_construction	10.0	construction_001	15.0	wall

TAir_nominal	dp_nominal	n	deltaM	fraRad	Q_flow_nominal	nEle	TRad_nominal	linearized	from_dp	T_a_nominal	T_b_nominal	mDry	VWat	name
293.15	0.0	1.24	0.01	0.3	2000.0	1	293.15	false	false	363.15	353.15	52.6	0.116	radiator_003

dpFixed_nominal	dpValve_nominal	deltaM	m_flow_nominal	delta0	R	linearized	from_dp	l	name
6000.0	6000.0	0.02	0.01	0.01	50.0	false	true	0.0001	valve_003

hRoo	AFlo	linearizeRadiation	m_flow_nominal	mSenFac	T_start	volume
2.5	70.0	true	0.01	1.0	294.15	175.0

gain	k	occupancy	name
[35; 70; 30]	1/6/4	3600 * {7, 19}	occupancy_2

Name	Azimuth	Construction Name	Surface	Tilt
externalwall_3	0.0	cavitywallpartialfill_001	25.0	wall
externalwall_4	90.0	cavitywallpartialfill_001	25.0	wall
externalwall_5	180.0	cavitywallpartialfill_001	34.0	wall
window_2	0.0	ins2ar2020_001	5.0	wall
window_3	180.0	ins2ar2020_001	2.0	wall
flooronground_1	90.0	concreteslab_001	60.0	floor
internal_space_001_space_002_cavitywall	10.0	cavitywall_001	20.0	wall
internal_space_002_space_001_construction	10.0	construction_001	15.0	wall
internal_space_002_space_003_cavitywallpartialfill	10.0	cavitywallpartialfill_001	22.0	wall

TAir_nominal	dp_nominal	n	deltaM	fraRad	Q_flow_nominal	nEle	TRad_nominal	linearized	from_dp	T_a_nominal	T_b_nominal	mDry	VWat	name
293.15	0.0	1.24	0.01	0.3	2000.0	1	293.15	false	false	363.15	353.15	52.6	0.116	radiator_001

dpFixed_nominal	dpValve_nominal	deltaM	m_flow_nominal	delta0	R	linearized	from_dp	l	name
6000.0	6000.0	0.02	0.01	0.01	50.0	false	true	0.0001	valve_001

hRoo	AFlo	linearizeRadiation	m_flow_nominal	mSenFac	T_start	volume
2.5	50.0	true	0.01	1.0	294.15	125.0

gain	k	occupancy	name
[35; 70; 30]	1/6/4	3600 * {7, 19}	occupancy_3

Name	Azimuth	Construction Name	Surface	Tilt
externalwall_6	180.0	construction_001	22.0	wall
externalwall_7	180.0	construction_001	17.0	wall
externalwall_8	180.0	construction_001	36.0	wall
flooronground_2	90.0	concreteslab_001	60.0	floor
internal_space_002_space_003_cavitywallpartialfill	10.0	cavitywallpartialfill_001	22.0	wall

TAir_nominal	dp_nominal	n	deltaM	fraRad	Q_flow_nominal	nEle	TRad_nominal	linearized	from_dp	T_a_nominal	T_b_nominal	mDry	VWat	name
293.15	0.0	1.24	0.01	0.3	2000.0	1	293.15	false	false	363.15	353.15	52.6	0.116	radiator_002

dpFixed_nominal	dpValve_nominal	deltaM	m_flow_nominal	delta0	R	linearized	from_dp	l	name
6000.0	6000.0	0.02	0.01	0.01	50.0	false	true	0.0001	valve_002

Construction

Layers for concreteslab_001

Name	c	epsLw	epsSw	k	rho	Thickness
concrete_001	900.0	0.88	0.55	1.4	2240.0	0.125
concrete_001	900.0	0.88	0.55	1.4	2240.0	0.125

Layers for construction_001

Name	c	epsLw	epsSw	k	rho	Thickness
material_001	1000.0	0.85	0.85	0.035	2000.0	0.1
material_002	1000.0	0.85	0.85	0.035	2000.0	0.1
material_003	1000.0	0.85	0.85	0.035	2000.0	0.1

Layers for epcdouble_001

Name	c	epsLw	epsSw	k	rho	Thickness
glass_001	840.0	0.84	0.67	1.0	2500.0	0.0038
air_001	1006.0	0.0	0.0	0.0256	1.2	0.012
glass_001	840.0	0.84	0.67	1.0	2500.0	0.0038

Layers for cavitywallpartialfill_001

Name	c	epsLw	epsSw	k	rho	Thickness
brick_001	800.0	0.88	0.55	0.89	1920.0	0.08
air_001	1006.0	0.0	0.0	0.0256	1.2	0.03
rockwool_001	800.0	0.8	0.8	0.035	100.0	0.1
brickhollow_001	880.0	0.88	0.55	0.3	850.0	0.14
gypsum_001	840.0	0.85	0.65	0.38	1120.0	0.015

Layers for ins2ar2020_001

Name	c	epsLw	epsSw	k	rho	Thickness
glass_001	840.0	0.84	0.67	1.0	2500.0	0.006
argon_001	522.0	0.0	0.0	0.0174	1.66	0.016
glass_001	840.0	0.84	0.67	1.0	2500.0	0.006

Layers for cavitywall_001

Name	c	epsLw	epsSw	k	rho	Thickness
brick_001	800.0	0.88	0.55	0.89	1920.0	0.08
rockwool_001	800.0	0.8	0.8	0.035	100.0	0.1
brickhollow_001	880.0	0.88	0.55	0.3	850.0	0.14
gypsum_001	840.0	0.85	0.65	0.38	1120.0	0.015

Systems

coefficients_for_efficiency_curve	diff_pressure	dp_nominal	dt_boi_nominal	dt_rad_nominal	effcur	fraction_of_nominal_flow_rate_where_flow_transitions_to_laminar	height_of_tank_without_insulation	if_actual_temperature_at_port_is_computed	nominal_heating_power	number_of_volume_segments	sca_fac_rad	tank_volume	temperature_used_to_compute_nominal_efficiency	thickness_of_insulation	use_linear_relation_between_m_flow_and_dp_for_any_flow_rate	nominal_mass_flow_radiator_loop	nominal_mass_flow_rate_boiler	v_flow	name
{0.9}	5000*{2,1}	5000.0	20.0	10.0	Buildings.Fluid.Types.EfficiencyCurves.Constant	0.1	2.0	false	2000.0	4	1.5	0.2	353.15	0.002	false	0.07142857142857142	0.07142857142857142	0.07142857142857142/1000*{0.5,1}	boiler_001